Adjustable Cap

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cap includes a top portion, a visor, and an adjustable elastic band. The top portion is generally hemispherical, but may be other shapes, for example, cylindrical or mostly hemispherical, and protects the wearer&#39;s head from the sun, wind, dust and the like. There is an open area in the rear of the top portion facilitating adjustment. The adjustable elastic band is attached around a bottom edge of the top portion and an adjusting portion of the adjustable elastic band resides at the base of the open area. The adjustable elastic band includes an elastic portion sequentially apart from the adjusting portion to provide a comfortable fit to the wearer. The elastic portion may be two elastic side portions connected by a non-elastic portion residing at a base of the visor. The adjustable portion may include snaps, buttons, a buckle, or hook and loop fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to caps and in particular to adjustable caps.

Caps are commonly worn for both practical and fashion reasons. The caps protect a wearer's head from sun burn and many caps include a visor portion (or bill) to protect the wearer's face from sun burn. The caps may also be reversed to protect the wearer's neck from sunburn. Caps also may be decorative, or include logos identifying interests of the wearer, sports teams supported by the wearer, or locations visited by the wearer. Often manufacturers and retainers provide caps with their logos as a form of advertising.

As a result of the wide use of such caps, it is desirable to keep costs low, and avoid the cost of making the hats in a range of sizes. A known alternative to such range of sizes is an adjustable band around the bottom edge of the cap that is fitted to the wearer's head, but known adjustable caps tend to be difficult to adjust for a comfortable fit.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an adjustable cap which includes a top portion, a visor, and an adjustable elastic band. The top portion is generally hemispherical, but may be other shapes, for example, cylindrical or mostly hemispherical, and protects the wearer's head from the sun, wind, dust and the like. There is an open area in the rear of the top portion facilitating adjustment. The adjustable elastic band is attached around a bottom edge of the top portion and an adjusting portion of the adjustable elastic band resides at the base of the open area. The adjustable elastic band includes an elastic portion sequentially apart from the adjusting portion to provide a comfortable fit to the wearer. The elastic portion may be two elastic side portions connected by a non-elastic portion residing at a base of the visor. The adjustable portion may include snaps, buttons, a buckle, or hook and loop fasteners.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable cap having an adjustable elastic band providing a comfortable fit. The adjustable elastic band includes an elastic portion sequentially apart from an adjusting portion. The adjusting portion may be adjusted for fit, and the elastic portion provides comfort for a wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an adjustable cap according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom side perspective view of the adjustable cap according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the adjustable cap according to the present invention

FIG. 4 shows a hook and loop adjusting portion of an adjustable elastic band of the adjustable cap according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a snap adjusting portion of an adjustable elastic band of the adjustable cap according to the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

A side perspective view of an adjustable cap 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, a bottom side perspective view of the adjustable cap 10 is shown in FIG. 2, and a bottom view of the adjustable cap 10 is shown in FIG. 3. The cap 10 includes a top portion 11 and visor 13. The top portion 11 may be hemispherical, cylindrical, or mostly hemispherical. An open area 18 in a rear 11 a of the top portion 11 facilitates adjustment. An adjustable elastic band circles the bottom edge 11 b of the top portion 11 and serially comprises an adjusting portion 14 and an elastic portion 14. The elastic portion 14 may be two side elastic portions separated by a non-elastic portion 16 residing inside along the visor 13 or may be a single continuous elastic portion.

An adjusting portion 12 allows a course fit of the hat to a wearer. The adjusting portion 12 is preferably vertically narrower than the elastic portion 14 allowing greater ventilation through the open area 18. Preferably, the adjusting portion 12 is centered lower than the elastic portion 14, drawing, further allowing greater ventilation through the open area 18.

A hook and loop adjusting portion 12 a of the adjustable elastic band is shown in FIG. 5 and a snap adjusting portion 12 b of the adjustable elastic band is shown in FIG. 5. The adjusting portion may further include buttons or a buckle.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. 

I claim:
 1. An adjustable cap comprising: a top portion for residing over a wearer's head; a visor extending from a bottom edge of the top portion; an open area in the rear of the top portion facilitating adjustment; an adjustable elastic band circling the bottom edge of the top portion; the adjustable elastic band comprising: an adjustment portion; and an elastic portion.
 2. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the top portion is at least partially spherical.
 3. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the top portion is hemispherical.
 4. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the top portion is cylindrical.
 5. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion includes snaps for adjusting the adjustable elastic band for the wearer.
 6. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion includes buttons for adjusting the adjustable elastic band for the wearer.
 7. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion includes a buckle for adjusting the adjustable elastic band for the wearer.
 8. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion includes hook and loop material for adjusting the adjustable elastic band for the wearer.
 9. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the elastic portion comprises two elastic side portions connected by a non-elastic portion residing at a base of the visor.
 10. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the elastic portion is a single continuous elastic portion reaching along sides of the cap and under a base of the visor.
 11. The adjustable cap of claim 1, wherein the elastic portion has a greater vertical width than the adjusting portion, the wide elastic portion providing comfort to a wearer and the narrow adjusting portion providing better ventilation at the open area in the rear of the top portion.
 12. An adjustable cap comprising: a hemispherical top portion for residing over a wearer's head; a visor extending from a bottom edge of the top portion; an open area in the rear of the top portion facilitating adjustment; an adjustable elastic band circling the bottom edge of the top portion; the adjustable elastic band comprising: an adjustment portion including snaps for adjusting the circumference of the adjustable elastic band; and an elastic portion comprising two elastic side portions connected by a non-elastic portion residing at a base of the visor.
 13. An adjustable cap comprising: a hemispherical top portion for residing over a wearer's head; a visor extending from a bottom edge of the top portion; an open area in the rear of the top portion facilitating adjustment; an adjustable elastic band circling the bottom edge of the top portion; the adjustable elastic band comprising: an adjustment portion including snaps for adjusting the circumference of the adjustable elastic band; and a single continuous elastic portion reaching around the sides and under a base of the visor, wherein: the elastic portion is vertically wider than the adjusting portion to provide a more comfortable fit for the wearer; and the adjusting portion is vertically narrower than the elastic portion and is centered lower than the adjusting portion providing a larger open area in the rear 